East Sussex · England
Tapas Catering in Ratton Village
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Ratton Village. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Work receptions
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Tapas with a paella main course
Tapas catering in Ratton Village
How our tapas catering works in Ratton Village
Canapé tapas suit standing receptions; table tapas suit seated meals. Many events have both. We’re often asked to cater engagement celebrations and welcome-drink canapés, with tortilla española, Serrano ham and gambas al ajillo.
Around Ratton Village, tapas suit garden parties and village-hall celebrations. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated, and served the moment it is ready.
- Location
- Ratton Village (BN20, BN21, BN22)
- Region
- East Sussex
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Live paella or other catering?
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, tapas work brilliantly. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
Why Ratton Village hosts choose us
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Drinks service on request
Ratton Village: your questions answered
Do you cater in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will follow the site rules.
Can you cater a reception after a service at The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
How many tapas per person?
It depends on whether they’re a starter, canapés or the whole meal. We’ll suggest quantities for your event.
Can you cook halal paella?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and we will cook a separate pan.
How much is live paella catering?
We quote for each event, based on what you actually want. Tell us your date and numbers and we’ll reply with a price.
How many different paellas?
Usually two or three, so every guest has a choice. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
Can you cook in the rain?
We cook under cover, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Can you serve drinks?
We can make sangria, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
What happens on the day
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up the pans and burners, and cook and serve without fuss. Evening receptions in Ratton Village stay light until about 8:50pm in late May and 9:15pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- We serve the spread.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
How to prepare
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
How to get a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Drinks receptions around Ratton Village
Ratton Village is about 2 miles west of Eastbourne, in East Sussex. Give us the address of your event in Ratton Village, and we’ll plan access and set-up before the day. We cook in all 289 towns and villages across East Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 17 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Alfriston Clergy House (4.3 miles west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. Historic buildings near Ratton Village often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue. The South Downs National Park is within about 5 miles of Ratton Village, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors. The coast is within about 3 miles, so garlic prawns are popular.
For tapas catering in BN20, BN21 and BN22, we plan around your venue and your guests. We can cater an event on streets such as Park Lane, Butts Lane and Ruskin Road or the roads around them. You will find Ratton Village on the A2270, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. For events just outside Ratton Village, we cover Hampden Park (1 mile east), Old Town (1 mile south), Eastbourne (2 miles east), Upperton (2 miles south-east) and Jevington (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Hastings (14 miles east), Bexhill-on-Sea (10 miles north-east), Seaford (6 miles west), Lewes (12 miles north-west), Hailsham (5 miles north) and St Leonards (14 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include Filching Manor And Motor Museum (1.6 miles north-west) and Eastbourne District General Hospital (0.7 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Combe Hill.
- Local schools include Ratton School (under half a mile east)
- Local pubs include The Red Lion pub (less than half a mile north)
Where we can cook in Ratton Village
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Parking near the venue
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
Popular choices
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
Towns and villages near Ratton Village
More for events in Ratton Village
What affects the price in Ratton Village
These are the factors that matter most:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Timings and hours
- Your choice of paellas
- Distance and access to the venue
Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What to tell us
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- Expected numbers
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- The date and time of the event
- Where the event is
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Events we cater in Ratton Village
They’re ideal when a full meal does not fit.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Birthday drinks
- Tapas starters
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Engagement drinks
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Hampden Park station, about 1.2 miles east.
Before you book anyone
- VAT, if it applies
- Payment terms and deposit
- Whether travel is included
- How long the team stays
Should I cook it myself?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Planners, venues and businesses
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Ratton Village? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Give us the details and we will suggest a plan.
Planning for every diet
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Collect dietary needs
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
- Cooked live in giant pans at your event
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options
- Paella, tapas, canapés and desserts
- Sangria, bar staff, crockery and waiting staff